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In a preceding table (XI.) I gave the age distribution of the population,
and I compared it with the age distribution of other districts.
Now age distribution has a considerable effect on the death rate of a
community, and it is consequently impossible to compare the death
rate of one place with that of another unless allowance be made for it.
One population may be cast in such a manner that it has an undue
proportion of young lives, another of the middle ages, and yet another
of old persons. Before then one can say whether the death rate of
Islington is good, bad or indifferent, it should be compared with other
districts. I have accordingly prepared Table XIX. in which I give
the deaths that would have occurred at the several age periods (the
death rates being the same) in Islington if the population had been cast
(1) as in England and Wales, (2) as in the Urban Districts, and (3) as
in the Rural Districts.